Muslim leaders in Malta condemn Egypt’s Palm Sunday church bombings

The Malta Muslim Community and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have condemned the attacks in Egypt when bombings struck Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were aimed at a vulnerable religious minority on one of the most important days on the Christian calendar.

The death toll rose to at least 49 Monday, state media reported. At least 27 people died in a blast inside a church in the northern city of Tanta, and 78 people were injured, according to Egypt's state-run news agency Al-Ahram. In Alexandria, 18 civilians and four police officers were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Coptic church.

“On behalf of Malta Muslim community I condemn the criminal bombings of Egyptian Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria,” Imam Mohammad Elsadi, leader of the Malta Muslim Community, said. “Irrespective of who the coward perpetrators behind them are, these are attacks on the freedom of worship and the long historical peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians of Egypt.”

The Imam said that terrorists are the enemies of humanity.

“We, Muslims and Christians, are targeted by their terror and we are all victims of terrorism,” he said.

The Imam argued that terrorists want to damage the image of Islam which protected the Christians in Egypt and the Middle East for the last fifteen centuries.

“They aim at inflaming religious clashes among the followers of different Faiths. We should be aware and wise and not to play into their hands. By establishing more social and political justice, upholding human rights, enhancing the culture of peace and tolerance through education, we will be more capable to combat terrorism whether it is committed by outlaw states or extremist groups.”

Elsadi said the world won’t be able to put an end to terrorism as long as there are certain governments practicing or legalizing or endorsing terrorism, as the case in Syria, or stand inactive in the face of terrorist groups growth in order to sell more weapons.

“Terrorism of states invites group terrorism, and oppression of governments invites gang group oppression.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community also condemned the attacks.

“Undoubtedly, these are inhuman, heinous and cruel attacks. The Ahmadiyya Community condemns the attacks in strongest terms. The Community also demands that the sate should provide full protection and security to all the citizens living in the country irrespective of their colour, creed, politics and faith; and particularly the rights of all the minorities should be protected and safeguarded fully by the state,” Laiq Ahmed Atif, the community’s president said.

Ahmadiyya said it believed in freedom of faith and that it rejected any kind of violence and force.

“The Community believes in the Quranic Teachings that ‘there is no compulsion in religion’ and condemns the use of force in the matters of faith, or in the name of religion.

“We, the members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat express our deepest condolences to the victims’ families in this difficult time and pray for the health of those who were injured in these attacks. We believe that there is a crucial need to combat any aggression based on religious or political differences.”